MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Public Schools is celebrating a century of beautiful music.
About 3,500 students of all ages from across the district will take part in the Biennial Music Festival at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panther Arena starting on May 1.
Leaders at the school district credit several MPS referendums that have passed over the years for helping support programs like this for students.
Kalil Hunter is a senior at Rufus King High School. He’s been playing the bass since he was 13 years old. Hunter said he loves meeting fellow musicians and mentoring the younger ones.
“You get to see a whole host of students, even elementary schools singing, high schools playing their instruments and I think it’s a good way to showcase what Wisconsin has in terms of musical talent,” said Hunter.
Hunter said after graduation, he plans to study law and earn a certificate in jazz studies. He said music helps him in every aspect of his life.
“It’s a different way of learning. It helps me with math, science. I feel like ever since I’ve gotten involved with music at a young age, it’s helped me grow,” said Hunter.
Sharie Garcia is the music curriculum specialist for MPS. She said she is proud the district has been able to host the music festival since the early 1920s.
“Kids from all over the city, different schools, different instruments, different ensembles, and they make music together, and it’s actually been in the same place. In 1924, it was in the Milwaukee Theatre, which is next door to where we are performing this year,” said Garcia.
Garcia said ever since the 2020 election, when Milwaukee residents approved an $87 million MPS referendum, the district has continued to grow its music department. She said MPS has increased its music teachers from 50 to over 120.
Milwaukee voters approved another referendum in April that allowed a property tax hike. It allocated $252 million over four years to support school programs. Garcia said the extra funding will only help the district keep up its growth.
“This referendum allowed us to keep that momentum going so what we have already built now we can not only maintain that, we can expand that as we move forward,” she said.